Preliminary finishing machine



Jan.

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 18, 1947 1952 H. L. BISHOP PRELIMINARY FINISHING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet- 2 Filed April 18, 1947 vwu irm //Q Mfi Fm NW FN 3 \k W NN L Jan. 1, 1952 BISHOP 2,580,723

PRELIMINARY FINISHING MACHINE Filed April 18, 1947 4 SheetsSheet 3 1952 H. L. BISHOP 2,580,723

PRELIMINARY FINISHING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 18, 1947 latented Jan. 1, 1952 PRELIMINARY FINISHING MACHINE gllomerLlBislmp, Dayton, Ohio Application April.18, 1947-; Serial No. 742,219

This invention relates to a machine foruse in manufacturing electrotypes or other plates and more particularly to a machine for compressing or solidifying the metal used in the electrotypes, although not necessarily so limited.

In the manufacture of electrotypes usually a shell is made by means of an electrolytic process, the details of which need not be described at this time. The rear of the shell is usually tinned. The shell is then placed in the bottom of a mold in readiness for the pouring of the electrotype metal. For various reasons voids or pockets may be formed in the electrotype metal during the pouring operation. For example, if impurities are found on the back of the shell or in the event there are impurities in the electrotype metal, especially impurities of the type that may generate gas upon being subjected'tothe hotelectrotype metal, such gas may create pockets or voids. Furthermore,air may be trapped during the pouring operation or slag may accumulate in the electrotype metal without having an opportunity to float to the top, thereby causing soft spots. If some measure is not taken to eliminate the soft spots, the shell, upon being used in the press, will yield so as to form depressions in the surface thereof. Obviously, the printed material will then be defective, in that the contour of the shell has been relieved.

The method now in vogue in most plants for finishing an electrotype is to utilize a hydraulic press for exerting pressure upon the rear of the electrotype. This results in the electrotype being clamped or pressed between two substantially parallel surfaces. The result of this procedure is to compress the metal most where it is not required. The solid portion of the electrotype function as barriers, absorbing the pressure. Furthermore, in a hydraulic press there obviously will be a slight degree of play or tolerance, resulting in a slight movement of the relative posi tion of the movable parts, so as to throw the parts out of absolute parallel relation. Due to the fact that electrotypes vary as to the required pressure, depending upon various factors, and due to the fact that there is no known practical method of determining the amount of pressurerequired for treating a particular electrotype, this is left to the judgment of the operator.. If his judgment is in error, the pressure applied may be too high or too low.

. In order to over-come this diifioulty, attempts have been made to utilize spring-pressed instrumentalities, exerting a pressure against the rear of the plate; but again, as the metal yields, ,the

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spring is elongated, thereby decreasing the pressure where the pressure is most needed. An object of this invention is to provide instrumentalities for applying localized pressure, such thatin the event the metal under one or more of the instrumentalities yields. the pressure is not decreased, but continues to be the same.

Another object of this invention is to provide a plurality of knurled or toothed rollers, each subjected to anindividual force that is substantially constant, in spite of the fact that the roller may. be displaced from the plane of the other rollers.

Another object of this invention is to provide a plurality of series of compression rolls,each interconnected to a lever supporting an adjustable weight so as to apply a constant weight or force, the force being determined by the relative position of the weight.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method of compressing the backing metal of an electrotype by progressively subjecting the backing metal to instrumentalities having a constant force applied thereto, to thereby force the backing metal into voids, cavities and low spots.

. Other objects and advantages reside in the constructionof parts, the combination thereof and the mode of operation, as will become more apparent from the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view. of the electrotype treating machine.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the machine shown in Figure l with parts broken away and other parts shown in section, so as to disclose the driving mechanism.

. -Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the treating machine as viewed from the right of Figure 2.

Figure 12 is a side elevational view of one of the compression rollers.

Fi ure l3 is a peripheral view thereof.

Figure 14 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line I4-I4 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, the reference character I indicates a bed or platen that is supported on end legs I2 and center legs I4. The platen I0 is provided with a longitudinal channel I6 extending from one end to the other thereof. The sides of the 'bed or platen I0 are provided with a plurality of guide members 20, each provided with an overhanging shoulder 22. Each of these guide members is held in position by a pair of screws 24.

A plate-supporting table or bed 30 is mounted between the guides and normally rests upon the top of the bed ID. A rack 32 attached to the underside of the table 30 and mounted in the channel I6 meshes with a drive gear 34, driven through a series of gears 36 and 38, the gear 38 through th apertures 86 in the fulcrum ends I4 of the levers I0 and 12.

In addition to the levers and 12 rollers I8 are journalled upon the pintles 80 mounted in the bifurcated arms 90 of levers 92, having pivotal fulcrum ends 94 positioned in notches 96 located in the under side of the supporting member 60, as best seen in Figure 10. One-half of the levers 92 extend in one direction from the support 50 in close proximity to the levers I2 and the other half extend in the opposite direction from the support 60 in close proximity to the levers 10.

" ue to the fact that the distance A-B, that is,

being keyed to a shaft 40. The shaft 40 is the output shaft of a gear reducing unit 42 driven by a V-belt 44, actuatedby an electric motor 46. These parts are all located underneath the bed In with the exception of the drive gear 34, which projects up into the channel I6. It can readily be seen that as the motor rotates, the drive gear 34 engaging the rack 32 actuates the plate-supporting table from one end of the table top to the other. Suitable electric switches may be mounted in the path of the table adjacent either end of the bed or platen I0, so that as the table approaches either end, the circuit through the electric motor is interrupted and preferably automatically reversed, in readiness for the succeeding operation. The table 30 is guided by the guides and held down by the overhanging shoulder 22.

One end of the table is provided with a transverse plate 26 and the opposite end with a transverse plate 50. The top of these plates are on the same level as the marginal aligning members 52 secured to the edges of the table 30. The plate 26, the plate 50 and the marginal aligning member 52 cooperate to form a cavity for the reception of the electrotype to be treated. The plates 26 and 50 and the marginal aligning members 52 are adjustably attached to the table 30 so as to form a cavity into which the electrotype to be treated is snugly positioned with the type face down. As the electrotype mounted upon the table top 30 is actuated from one end of the bed or platen I0 to the other end thereof, the rear of the electrotype is subjected to pressure by a compressing mechanism which will now be described.

A supporting member 60 mounted upon a pair of legs 62 is secured to the margins of the bed or platen I0 by a plurality of bolts 64. This supporting member is provided with a plurality of staggered notches 66 and 58 for pivotally receiving lever members I0 and I2. One of the lever members in has been shown indetail in Figuree. It includes a fulcrum pivot or end I4 and a bi furcated arm IS the furcations of which are 'provided with aligned apertures for receiving a compression roller or wheel I8, shown in Figures 12 and 13. These compression wheels may also be seen in Figures 1, 3 and 8. The compression wheels I8 are provided with a knurled or toothed periphery and are mounted for rotation upon pintles 80 as best seen in Figure 1 secured in the apertures in the furcations of the arm I6 and held in position by a suitable set screw 82. A suitable retaining rod 84 is passed through the apertures in supporting member '60 and extend the distance from the fulcrum to the axis of rotation of the rollers I8 of the levers I0 and I2 is much greater than the corresponding distance 0-D, that is, the distance from the fulcrum to the axis of rotation of the rollers 18 of the levers 92, the levers I0 and 12 are longer than the levers 92. The levers I0, 12 and 92 are located in slots in the guide members I00, so as to maintain the levers aligned and prevent the levers from twisting laterally.

The pressure or force exerted upon each of the r rollers 18 may be increased or decreased by adjusting the weights away from or towards the fulcrum. For some types of plates it may be desirable to exert a great pressure. This is dependent in part upon the composition of the alloy used in backing the shell of the electrotype and furthermore this is dependent in part upon the age of the electrotype. An electrotype that has been recently cast does not require as much pressure to process as does an electrotype that has been cast a sufilcient time to completely solidify. Furthermore, the pressure exerted upon the backing metal of the electrotype may depend in part upon the nature of the material to be reproduced. If, for example, the shell containing the face of the plate is easily conc'aved, as for example, certain type, the pressure applied to the rear of the electrotype must necessarily be reduced as compared to other kinds of material.

The electrotype to be treated is placed face down upon the movable table 39 and between the end plates '26 and 50 and between the marginal members 52. The plate 26 may be adiusted towards or away from the plate 50, so as to accommodate various lengths of electrotypes. Likewise, the marginal aligning members 52 may be adjusted laterally so as to engage or contact the sides of the electrotype to be processed. In the event the marginal aligning'members 52 are adjusted inwardly, it may be necessary to cause one or more of the rollers 18 to become inoperative. This may be accomplished by inserting suitable blocks under the levers, preferably in the slots in members I86, so as to counteract the effectiveness of the Weights controlling these rollers 18. By inserting blocks in the slots under the selected rollers I8, these rollers may be raised out 9f contact with the portion of the bed 30 and aligning members 52. When the electrotype is placed in this cavity with the type face down, the rollers 18 rest upon the plate 50, so as to permit the insertion of the electrotype in the cavity above the table 30.

The electrotype is then ready to be treated. The circuit through the motor driving the table 30 is then closed. The table then moves from one end ofthe 'bed to the opposite end, causing the rollers 18 to engage the back of the electrotype, "the knurled margin of the rollers cutting into the metal on the rear or back of the electrotype and exerting a downward pressure, forcing the backing material into the rear of the shell forming the face of the electrotype, thereby compressing the metal, so as to eliminate cavities, voids, gas pockets et cetera that may be found in the body of the electrotype, thereby producing a compact, solid electrotype. The face mat for face-treating the electrotype may be in registry with the electrotype when it is sent through this treating machine.

From the foregoing it may be readily seen that the rear of the electrotype is progressively compressed by a series of individual rollers, so staggered in position that the entire area of the electrctype is compressed by individual rollers exerting pressure upon a very small area, the pressure remaining substantially constant, irrespective of any give or yielding of the metal, in that the effectiveness of the leverage or the weights is substantially constant and is not decreased by a slight yielding of the metal underlying the roller.

After the rear surface of the electrotype has been treated in its entirety the electrotype is then passed through a shaver, so as to trim the rear surface of the electrotype and so as to reduce the thickness of the electrotype to a pre.

determined dimension.

Although the periphery of the roller 78 has been referred to as having a knurled surface, this surface need not necessarily be knurled; but for some purposes it is preferably toothed, that is, it is preferably provided with sharp teeth penetrating the metal on the rear of the electrotype. These wheels could also be provided with peripheral grooves forming annular grooves and annular ribs or ridges, the ridges penetrating the metal on the rear of the electrotype. Any other suitable configuration on the surface of the rollers 18 may be used.

Although the preferred embodiment of the device has been described, it will be understood that within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consist in a device capable of carrying out the objects set forth, as disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A device for use in finishing electrotypes including a table for supporting an electrotype with its face in contact with the table, a series of narrow rollers extending in side by side relation across the width of the table, means supporting each roller for individual movement toward and from the table, said means including an elongated horizontal lever arm for each roller, a weight for each lever arm, means for slidably mounting each weight on its corresponding lever arm and means individual to and connecting each lever arm and its roll for urging the roll toward the table under the influence of the weight.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the supporting means includes a support for one end of each lever arm, alternate lever arms extending in one direction from the support, the other lever arms extending in the opposite direction from the support.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein each of the lever arms is provided with a bifurcated arm extending substantially at right angles to the length of the lever arm, the rollers being journaled in the furcations.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein a slotted member guides the lever arms and functions to limit the movement of the lever arms to prevent the rollers from contacting the table when the electrotype does not underlie the rollers.

5. A device according to claim 1 wherein the table is provided with marginal aligning means cooperating with the table to form a pocket into which the electrotype is positioned.

HOMER L. BISHOP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 114,134 Hanvey Apr. 25, 1871 148,643 Annandale, Jr Mar. 17, 1874 169,701 Howard Nov. 9, 1875 278,169 Nicholson May 22, 1883 316,073 Stackpole Apr. 21, 1885 337,230 Bean Mar. 2, 1886 878,071 Laing Feb. 4, 1908 1,414,574 Laing May 2, 1922 1,663,876 Claybourn Mar. 27, 1928 

